There are just gads of P-51 Models out there. Personally it is my fave aircraft. In fact my license plate is P51D. Chuck Yeager may be the most influential aviator after the Wright Brothers. So many years ago I decided to do his mount the day he got 5.
Contrary to popular belief I was convinced that he was not in a BMF 'stang on that day. Prior research had stated the squadron and group were the last to carry the OD/Neutral Gray finish. Dropping this in October '44. He scored five in a day on 14 October '44 escorting B-24’s.
So I started looking. Two interesting sources, his autobiography and an advert for a collectors plate. Well the plate came up first actually. The plate howed the OD finish. Then I looked at the photo of him on the day he got 5. I believe it is an OD finish. Even though it is B/W there are some truly discernable traits of an other than BMF aircraft.
The kit is not one of my best at all, so no pictures available. However, I am tempted to do it again in 1/87 scale {!!!} (HO from Walthers) and was considering making my own transfers for it.
I need some independent confirmation of the scheme and some help on the math for decal conversion of 1/72 to 1/87.
Math Help Incoming
Since 1/87 decals would be smaller than 1/72, your setting should result in a reduction.
So try 72 divided by 87, which yields 0.82759. Photoreduce your 1/72 decals to 83% and you should have useable 1/87 artwork. As to converting this to transfers, I’m sorry to say you’re on your own.
Phil Schenfeld
Hiya Joe,
As for the a/c, if it was in the fall then Yeagers ship could have been a NMF. I have some reference material that says he shot down four in a day which was on 27 Nov 44.
I really did not see anything that mentioned that he got five. Then again I only looked through a few books that pertain to the 357th.
“Glamorous Glen II” s/n 41-13897 was Yeagers mount upon returning to the 357th after being shot down. Unforunately this a/c does not show any kill markings on her unless they were applied later on while she was in her OD, Neutral gray scheme. It could be possible for the latter part but I have not seen any photos.
Heres a pix of his NMF bird. I’ll check out a few more sources and I’ll get back to ya.
The date of Yeager’s five-kill mission was October 12th, 1944. From what I recall, Yeager didn’t even fire a shot at the first two aircraft; they simply bailed out!
Anyhoo, if he was flying his personal mount on that day, and I do believe this to be the case, then it would have been the ship mentioned by Butz; B6-Y, ‘Glamorous Glen II’, 44-13897. Incidentally, this ship was lost on 18th October while flown by Lt. Horace Roycroft, KIA.
As to the colors… if it carried the camo at the time of this mission, it would not have been OD over neutral gray, but rather a dark green and light grey from RAF color stocks.
I’ll post some photos of ‘Glamorous Glen II’ over on ETO and post a link here. I think I have an image of the encounter report as well.
Hey Joe,
Yuppers, just checked another reference and Steve-O is right. MAN…!!! I guess I should go into the searching a lil more before dumping the info…[:p][:p] Its been one of those days…!!
Flaps up, Mike
Many thanks to all!!! The issue of the color from RAF stocks, any chance on getting FS numbers on those or Brit classification numbers? The reference to 14 October is incorrect, it was actually 12 October. 14 October was I believe the day the sound barrier was broken…and also my wedding anniversary…
